Eight years between albums is an eternity, but if there is one band who can get away with it then it is certainly AC/DC, who at this point of their career are entitled to do anything they please. Given the long wait I couldn't help but wonder if the band might recreate the steaming boogie of the Bon Scott years, the hard rock muscle of 'Flick Of The Switch' or even the good time rock and roll of 'Blow Up Your Video'. On those counts the answer is 'no, vaguely and yes'.

Here's a band that is twenty years too late it would seem. If you like listening to past glory days faves like Firehouse, Biloxi, Mitch Malloy and Nelson, then Action will fit the bill nicely. There are a heap of vocal harmonies which is the essence of any good AOR/melodic rock band.

Warrnambool Australia is hardly the place of legends in terms of Australian folklore. No famous racehorses have come from here, nor are there any famous bottles of rum named after this place, unlike a certain little town in Queensland. However, what Warrnambool can lay claim to is sprouting new Aussie rock stars in-the-making - Airbourne.

Mostly, the songs here will appeal greatly to AORsters, and for me I'll take what's on offer, knowing that we've got an album from the original band, even if it's nowhere near the bombast of the Geffen years.

When I first listened to this album I was prepared to give it a very harsh mark. Then I listened again and found that there are plenty of good things going on.. Not a completely bad album, but there are so many more out there that are so much better and Asian Typhoon do not have enough puff to blow their competitors away.

Tobias Sammet's returns with the third Avantasia instalment. While the earlier two are both recommended listening, I feel 'The Scarecrow' stands in a field on its own in terms of successfully using multiple vocalists.

This 2CD set from Ayreon master commander Arjen Lucassen has all the makings of something 'big'. I mean lets face it.. the album concept, the amazing lineup of musicians, the different array of product surrounding the release of '01011001'.. it just screams into your face.. 'BIG'!!

Featuring Balance's Peppy Castro, the uber talented Alessi Brothers and former Network/Aviator drummer Mike Ricciardella, Barnaby Bye are back with a stellar pop record worthy of your attention. Gone for the most part are the Wings, Pilot and Harry Nilsson-isms in favor of a modern pop sound that in a perfect world should be all over the radio.

I have found much to enjoy about the current melodic rock scene. The 'old timers' continue to come up with some surprises (take a bow Messr's Rundgren and Springfield), there's a steady stream of 'classic' AOR reissues (e.g. Russia, Cobra)`and some great new acts such as Ladyhawke, The Bright and The Script.

Overall, an excellently produced CD, musicianship second to none, of course that's expected, but you feel a real 'enjoyment' of making this a great release, the feeling, the care.. and this comes across to the listener.

lood Of The Sun play classic hard prog/rock with a fantastic Hammond Organ, courtesy of Dave Gryder who previously played with Prog band Covenent. If you like your classic Deep Purple then Blood Of The Sun are their bastard sons.

'It's Only Rock 'n Roll' to quote The Rolling Stones.. right Billy? Damn straight, and speaking of the Stones, those bad boys of rock are the touchstone for 'All Dressed Up And Nowhere To Go', We're talking the down and dirty period of 'Sticky Fingers' with a greasy helping of early skinny and cool haired Rod Stewart and a smattering of the glitter rock ala David Bowie and Mott The Hoople.

Well, I am going to keep the summary brief. So early on in 2008 you have some very good investment choices to make. Brother Firetribe without doubt, is an automatic compulsory addition to your music collection if you are regular reader of this site, and/or a fan of melodic hard rock/AOR. That's it - pure and simple. Buy!!

We continue the run on Swedish glam rock with the band Cirkus. You can easily tell these guys have their hearts, minds and guitar strings sourced from the late great 70's. Take a dose of glam a la T-Rex, a pinch of classic 70's rock a la Aerosmith and Zeppelin, and you've pretty much summed up Cirkus in a sentence or two.

Cut Lip's Myspace page says they are 'The best shit you ever heard!!!' Brave words indeed, but these guys match the bravado with some attitudinal Swedish rawk and rawl not heard since.. well.. I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Here is a New York band from the late 70s that flew so low under the radar that they could have been a lawnmower! We're talking about the one and only Cyclops. To my way of thinking, they were the East Coast's answer to Angel.

We've reviewed a few Italian bands of late, you can now add glam rocker Dannie Damien to the list. Don't be put off by the dubious album title, this is actually pretty good, given the frugal resources afforded this self released effort.

Earlier this year we bought to you a great new AOR act called Elevener. From Gothenburg Sweden, they are now joined by another outfit breaking out of the Swedish capital of prog metal. These boys are called Danger Avenue, and present a very Americanised sound that is mainly AOR but with a slightly glammy/pop edge too, but don't tell them that!

For me, 'Empty Faces' wasn't as exciting as some of their previous work. I felt that the keys weren't as prominent on this set than on earlier recordings, therefore the album just lacked slightly in texture and colour.

Surprisingly, after having listen to this in its entirety, it stacks up ok. For what it's worth, 'Lightning Strikes Again' is not the total write-off people have been telling me it is. Sure, a couple of ill-advised additions to the album might drop its rating a couple of half-notches, but considering there are 12 tracks here, it still leaves a good majority in the very good category.

ALBUM OF THE MONTH - OCT 2008. Californian band Dreamer are an 80's AOR paradise. This new album is a retrospective collection. For me, this is the best AOR-FM release so far. The packaging is pretty special, the CD is a limited collectors edition with only 750 copies being printed.

Dreamtide surely don't offer peanuts with their output. Fourteen songs are sure to keep listeners happy in terms of value for money. The songs overall are classy, without being razor sharp. The balance is definitely in favour of hard rocking songs, with three or four ballads to soften up the load.

'Time And Tide' is his Robbie Dupree's 2008 effort, the first album in five years, and it seems to have created a bit of a resurgence in his career. If you've followed Robbie from day one then you'll be aware that not much has changed stylistically for the man from Woodstock. His songs breathe life, the production is a blend of earthy organics and lush warmth.

Admittedly 2008 was a great year for melodic rock, even if the industry didn't have the stats to back up what was a memorable year. We've reviewed a bunch of albums, but strangely, Eclipse's 'Are You Ready To Rock' was not covered. Slap us with a feather duster why don't you.. In fact, a severe kick up the backside is required, as this album is an absolute head-turner in the world of melodic hard rock.

ALBUM OF THE MONTH - JUL 2008. Just as we are getting our breath back after a slew of sensational 2008 releases, along comes a sensational new Swedish duo to set us on our way again. The project is called Elevener, and this duo are encamped in AOR territory, with a serious right to defend the melodic heartland with a serious arsenal of good songs and a supply of professional musicianship.

Recently reviewed here was a long lost album from 1970 - Elias Hulk. The last thing we expected was to hear from one of the band members. Even more shocking was the news a CD/EP had just been released!

These songs are firmly planted in the style of many fine bands of the mid 80s - very early 90s timeframe. I mentioned Winger in a comment on 'Turn Up The Band', and I'll throw Tyketto and early Black N Blue in there as well.